Dehumidifying apparatus



July 3l, 95l P. ALTMAN 2,562,405

DEHUMIDIF'YING APPARATUS Filld Aug. 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fam.

INVENTOR.

l PET ER ALTMAN fY www Y@ ATTO EYS P. ALTMAN DEHUMIDIFYING APPARATUSluly 31, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1948 'will IN1 INVENTOR.PETER ALTMAN ATT RNEYS Patented July 31, 1951 J i l UNITED-r OFFICE YDEHUMIDIFYING'APARATUS t g' Peter Altman; Detroit, Mich., `ssignor toContinental Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., -a.,corporationofevirginia Y. i. v

Application ugust 19, 1'948i`Seral No. 45,130

wvw13.Claims. ((31.34e-4-35y ,t i "My invention relatesgto adehumidiiying appa-?-l systemibecause the engine and .the exhaustsysratus andto' a methodioi operation'forsupplyng tem-areboth placed inthe pathofrtheincoming 'anzadequate amount of -heatedair toa storageair, and this heated air-\is-carried-into the air facility forY hayi'orother similar produce, `and. Aductsileading to the crop storagefacility. It has more'particu'larly to van vapparatus"utilizing'ien-`I5-been-possibleto recover substantially all-ofthe gine heatfor heatingthear." ""3 @heat dissipatedbysaidengine.- 1 r ""It-'isrecognized'that:the use ofheatedeair is "i-elorna-more detailed,understandingoffmyindesirable and beneficial inithe" drying of hay and ventionreferencemay be had to the accompanyother feeds or produce, because it permitsloading ing* drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thehayin'abinoriother 'enclosure under rela-4 10of-myinventiony n-which-like partsarereferred v, tively wet'conditions such as 40-45'percentfmois-rl" l'to hylike `characters throughout the several 'iture content,vand."allowstl'iev drying of this hay views, and in which f eJWithoutspo'ila'ge 'Thisresultsin hay of a high i'e'lgr; '1"is'ardlglnflflam@ VeW-Sh0WiI1g my y carotin content and a highernutrtive'value,"'as Whole System and "embodying -the^DrI1Cp1eSf0ffhasfbeendemonstrated by actual feedingitests. `vmy invention# 1 ductedto the hay storage facility.` Suchadded '-i'as''constructedforinstallation in anair` duct "heating units are "at presenta firehazard-and 20'leading-tofawcrop'storage bin or 'other storage 'cannot beused excepting when lan"`operator is in vfacilityf i ff i constantattendance;and"a"careful`watch'must iirilig. 14 is an enlarged-Sideelevationalfview loe maintained overthe wholeoperationz' *jV ithereof'showing-the manual control `for adjust- Tlt 'isan object' Aof mypresent invention""'to ing the vanes, and f overcome the aforesaiddifficulties as encountered 25j *Fig Eris asideelevationalvew-ofayane'struc- "Wth'the use of auxiliary'heatingequipment,by"` ure'fshowing an automatic controlvtl'ierk-z'for.ril utilizing the'heat 'generated by an internal comi iresent invention-spreferably shown in bust'on engine used to drveitheblow'er whichj'connectio'nivwith apparatus -fordrying hay-Sor "ir'culates' the airthrough said 'Crop storage nCvthe'1""f1`e'gumilOuS feeds 01 farm produceand in facility." u30 jFig.` 1,aI-'ha've diagrammatically illustratedast'orvIn general, lthe. ordinary type of Vstorag'ejloin or i "age-`facility lsuch -as' 'a bin or bamr IIL ani-ail Voth'er storageV*facility requires about'a maximum iduct 'I I yleading to' Vsaiclstoragefacility-1 fandian "of 71/2 horsepower to drive a fan of suicients'zeinternal "Combustion ellhe"4 I2? -pr0vded {With Y'furthe circulatingofair. "This'amountlof power, #suitable-*Cowling I3 for directing airflewfover htwever;luces'"notresult'in suiiicient heat for 35'sadengine.v yThebarn Oriother-erielosurelisvpredryn'g'underallconditions. Consequently it is- 4vided with asutable'air outlet IIL Y'-1 necessary to have'a greater amount of heat' and e t-'iibeaxiaibiower-or fan l5 is housed inthe "in the present invention; this isalrobtained from "conduit or 'air duet II', preferably adjacent --the"theinternai combustion engine diving'theifan nlet'iendend-adjacent tosaid engine I2. IThis ""or"blower'instead of usingk auxiliary or`suppler40"4 egne'lf isfrr'nounted'on a basi and-rotatably '"m'entary.heaters with ltin-ni attending hazards Supported-oninestand|1,andisirovidedwith and operating difficulties. krexlfiaiist vmanifold meansV4I8f-connected With an To obtain the necessary additionall hee-timmyfexh'aust'rijrig or 'pipe 19, 'Which-is pieferablvinos'- fpresent systemas describedherein, I artificially itfinedfat'thermouthof the 'airductiI-I' (See Fig'Z) "increase the back pressure on the fanorblower.n45""il1 IaISVSI'SlY eXtnded"'aCrSSjhefa Stream. jand 'consequentlythere is'required a YVgreater Thus ,the Cooling airCleillated.Overth-engne faiiiount of power to operate the'fa orbl'otvr-iij.V .jiya allidrawn into; the air `duct '-"I liand such alr'Experience has "shown thatV one cari increase D Css, O'verfthe exhaustpipe I9 and extractlsthe 'the'bower required fromA about seven'totwentyifmax'rrum; amount "oi heat dissiriatedhy theehve horsepowervv'ith'the -use of only"a36""`tube V 50" "ginefand' the exhaust'sys/"tem" 'beforefent'eringfthe ai'i'ial fan, and thus make availableabout three" "'ihd'lctff v` l and a half times as much heat comparedl'to' the "f'f" l'I lie" tube waiial fan-"151s sulostantially'of Vtheheat'rgenerated by such an engine when' operating saine diameter as theair duct 'and downstream fagain'st'no artificial back pressure.'Allthisfextra of this fan I propose to erect a plurality ofV varies'power'shows up as useful heat ixthecirculating extending transverselyof the air stream? The 3 vane assembly indicated as a whole by referencecharacter 20 comprises a ring or frame 2| on which is rotatably mounteda plurality of vanes 22, each of these vanes connected with shafts 23,which are in turn connected with arms 24, and all of said arms areconnected with a bar 25 manually actuated or moved by a handle 26. Thusby moving, bar 25 all of said vanes 22 may be adjusted from a closedposition as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to a wide open position. When thesevanes are adjusted to a wide open position they offer little or noresistance to flow of airV through said air duct, andas they areadjusted towards the closed position, they offer progressivelyincreasing resistance to the air now through the air duct. To overcomethis back pressure or resistance to air flow, the engine is loaded andconsequently an excess amount of power is required to move therequiredamount of air through `,the .air ductr against the resistance or backpressure produced by the vanes when adjusted towards the closedposition.

, `While a manual control is adequate in many installations, it is verydesirable in some instances, to have an automatic control. Fig. 5illustrates such a control, 3U represents a humidity and temperaturecontroldevice of conventional construction, 31 a selector valve, 32 and33 exhaust valves,l and 34 is an actuating cylinder or motor Yconnectedin aconventional manner to the bar 25 of the vane assembly 20.

The automatic control as illustrated in Fig. 5 is designated as a wholein Fig. 1 by reference character C and is preferably electricallyconnected with humidity andv temperature responsive devices 40 locateddownstream of the blower or fan. lOne of such devices may be locatedadjacent the inlet opening of the storage facility and another adjacentthe outlet, or elsewhere in the system if so desired, and a switchl 4Irnay be incorporated in the electrical control circuit ton control whichof said devices 40 are to be used.

Obviously, the automatic operation may be such as to control vtheadjustmentiof the vanes in response to many of thev physical changeswhich take place on the down stream side of the system, such as by thetemperature of the circulating air, the temperature of the hay, thepressure of the circulating system, the humidity of the outside vair 4or the humidity of the air at the exit A of the barn or otherdryingenclosure.

Another possiblemodication of the syste may comprise .the constructionofadjustable and controllable propeller blades in the fanfThus the fanblades 45 may be fixed blades when used with vanes 20 and 20 or may bemade adjustable to vary the pitch and thus increase or decrease the backpressure on the engine. Also, if desired, the adjustable vanes orpropeller blades can be. controlled through suitable controller meanswhich are operated in response to variations of engine manifold vacuum,engine oil pressure or other suitable control means such as an electricmotor.

While I have illustrated one system. and particularly pointed out anddescribed a vmanual and automatic operation, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that various changes in structure, and othermodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or vfrom the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. 'A 'aenum'idifying apparatus of the character 75" 4 described, an airduct, means for moving air through said duct, and comprising an internalcombustion engine, a Cowling over said engine, an engine exhaust conduittraversing the space about the engine and within the Cowling, animpeller driven by said engine and operable to exhaust the airfrom-within the cowling and about said engine to said air duct; andmeans located downstream from the impeller for impeding air flow tocreate back pressure on the impeller requiring an excess of power tooperate the impeller over the normal power requirements for moving alike column of air through said air duct, said excess power generatingheat lto Vbe absorbed by the air stream and conducted Vloading' of saidimpeller, thereby requiring an excess of engine horsepower to maintain alike volume of air flow to said air duct, substantially allV of the heatdissipated from said engine being absorbed by the air stream andconducted to the air duct.

3. A dehumidifying apparatus of the character described, an air duct,means for moving air through said duct, and comprising an internalcombustion engine, a cowling over said engine, an engine exhaust conduittraversing the space about the engine and within the cowling, an

impeller driven by said engine and operable to exhaust the air fromwithin the cowling and about said engine to said air duct, said impellerbeing operable to move a predetermined volume of air to said air duct,and adjustable means for excess loading of said impeller, therebyrequiring anexcess of engine horsepower to maintain alike volume of lairflow to said air duct, substantially all of.l the heat dissipated fromsaid engine being absorbed by the air stream and conducted to the airduct. A

4. A dehumidifying apparatus of the character described, an air duct,means for moving air through saidduct and comprising an internalcombustionengine, a cowling over said engine,

about'the engine and withinfthe cowling."an

impeller driven by said enginev and operablev to exhaust the airfroinwithin the Cowling and about said engine to said air duct, said impellerbeing operable to move a predetermined volume of air to said air duct;and adjustable means for excess loading of said impeller, therebyrequiring an excess `of engine-horsepower to 'maintain a like, volume ofair flow to said air jduct, substantially allj of the heat dissipatedfrom said lengine being absorbed by the air stream and conducted` to theair duct,.saidradjus table means regulated in response to thetemperature requirements downstream from said impeller.

5. In a dehumidifying apparatus 0f thecharacter described, an air duct,means for moving air throughA Ysaid duct and comprising an jinternallcombustion engine, a cowling overA said engin'e, Aan engine exhaustconduit traversing the space; about the engine and within' the cowling,

aseaeoe --of airv to said air duct, and adjustable means for-excessloading of said impeller, thereby requiring an excess of enginehorsepower tomaintain' a like volume of air flow to said air duct,`substantially all of the heat dissipated from said engine-beingabsorbed by the air stream and 'conducted to the air duct, saidadjustable means regulatable in response to temperature requirements.downstream from said impeller for selectively imposing a back pressureon the impeller, said'excess horsepower utilized to overcome saidexc'essbackv pressure and to provide an excess of heatfortransmission bythe air flow to said air du'ctr'* 6;'In a dehumidifying apparatus of thecharacterdescribed, an air duct, means for moving al'r'through said ductand comprising an internal combustion engine, an impeller driven by saidengine and operable to exhaust the air from about said engine to saidair duct, said impeller being operable to move a predetermined volume ofair to said air duct, and adjustable means for excess loading'of saidimpeller, thereby requiring an vexcess of engine horsepower to maintaina like volume of air flow to said air duct, substantially Lall of theheat dissipated from said engine being 'having air cooled cylinder andmeans driven by the engine for circulating cooling air over said enginecylinders, a shroud associated with said engine andeollectingsubstantially all said air after it passes over the engine cylinders, anair duct having an inlet opening adjacent the outlet oi said shroud, animpeller in said air duct and driven by said engine, said impelleroperable to move a given amount of air through said duct including theheated air from said shroud, and means for excess loading of saidimpeller, thereby requiring an excess of engine horsepower to maintain alike volume of air flow to said air duct and serving to translate theexcess horsepower into heat to be picked up by the air stream conductedto said air duct.

8. In a dehumidifying apparatus of the character described, an internalcombustionengine having air cooled cylinders and means driven by theengine for circulating cooling air over said engine cylinders, a shroudassociated with said engine and collecting substantially all said airafter it passes over the engine cylinder, an air duct having an inletopening adjacent the outlet of said shroud, an impeller in said air ductand driven by said engine, said impeller operable to move a given amountof air through said duct including the heated air fron said shroud, andmeans for excess loading of said the,V airstream ,conducted to` said airduct,` ,the inletsopening oi said air duct servingtotake in: air fromall around ysaid engine, said, engine having `exhaust connections forcarrying away the products of combustion, said exhaust vconnections ,fcomprising exhaust piping extending transverse of the/air streamadjacent the inlet openingvof said air duct. c 9. In a dehumidifyingapparatus of the character described, an internal, combustion `|enginehaving airv cooled cylinders and means 'driven by `the `enginefffor.circulating cooling air, over said-:engine cylinders, a Ashroudassociated ewith saidV engine and collecting substantially allqsaid air;after it'passesover the engine cylinder, an.

Yair;d1.1ct^:having,an inlet opening adjacent the outlet ofgesaidshroud, an impeller in said airl duct and r'driven vby said engine, saidimpeller: operable to =movea given amount of air through: saidl ductincluding,.the heated air from saidv shroud,'and meansl for excessloading of said impeller, .thereby requiring an excess ofenginehorsepower`v to maintain a like volume of airflow impeller, therebyrequiring an excess of engine to'said air duct and serving to translatethe excess of engine horsepower into heat to be picked up..by-.the air4stream conducted to said airduct,

v thepinlet opening oi said air duct serving to take in air vfrom-allaround said engine, said engine havingexhausti connections for carryingaway Y driven by lsaid engine, said impeller operable to move a Ygivenamount of air through said duct including.-v the heated air from saidshroud, and means for excess loading of said impeller, thereby requiringan excess of engine horsepower to maintain a like volume of air flow tosaid air duct and serving to translate the excess horsepower,

into heat to be picked up by the air stream conducted to said air duct,said impeller comprislng a tube axial fan mounted in said air duct, saidmeans for excess loading the impeller comprising a set of adjustablevanes mounted in the air duct on the downstream side of said tube axialfan, and means for adjusting the position of said vanes to selectivelyvary the back pressure on said tube axial ian whereby to utilize thefull capacity of an engine of excess horsepower and serving to supply anexcess amount of heat to the air stream conducted to said duct ascompared to the heat dissipated by an engine rated to actuate anunloaded fan of a capacity to meet the normal requirements of said airduct as to volume `of air to be moved therethrough.

11. In a dehumidifying apparatus of the character described, an internalcombustion engine having air cooled cylinders and means driven by theengine for circulating cooling air over said engine cylinders, a shroudassociated with said engine and collecting substantially all said airafter it passes over the engine cylinders, an air duct having an inletopening adjacent the outlet of said shroud, an impeller in said air ductandv driven by said engine, said impeller operable to'e move a givenamount of air through said duct includingY the heated air from saidshroud, and means for excess loading of said impeller, thereby requiringan excess of engine horsepower to maintain a like volume of air ilow tosaid air duct and serving to translate the excess horsepower into heatto be picked up by the air stream conducted to said air duct, saidimpeller cornprising a tube axial ian mounted on said air duct, saidmeans for excess loading the impeller comprising a set of adjustablevanes mounted in the air duct on the downstream side of said tube axialfan, and means for adjusting the position of said vanes to selectivelyvary the back pressure on said tube axial fan whereby to utilize thefull capacity of an engine of excess horsepower and serving to supply anexcess amount of heat to the air stream conducted to said duct ascornpared to the heat dissipated by an engine rated to actuate unloadedfan of a capacity to meet the normal requirements of said air duct as tovolume of air to be moved therethrough, said vanes adjustable inaccordance with the physical characteristics of the air stream to beexhausted from said air duct. Y

12. In a dehumidifying apparatus of the character described, an internalcombustion engine having air cooledv cylinder and means driven by theengine for circulating cooling air over said engine cylinders, a shroudassociated with said engine and collecting substantially all said airafter it passes over the engine cylinders, an air duct having an inletopening adjacent the outlet of said shroud, an impeller in said air ductand driven by said engine, said impeller operable to move a given amountof air through said duct including the heated air from said shroud, andmeans for excess loading of said impeller, thereby requiring an excessof engine horsepower to maintain a like volume of air flow to said airduct and serving to translate the Aexcess horsepower into heat to bepicked up by the air stream conducted to said air duct, saidl impellercomprising a tube axial fan mounted in said air duct, said means for.excessloading the impeller comprising a set of adjustable vanes mountedin the air duct on the downstream side of said tube axial fan. and meansfor adjusting the position of said vanes to selectively vary the backpressure on said tube axial fan whereby to utilize the full capacity otan engine of excess horsepower and serving to supply an excess amount ofheat to the air stream conducted to said duct as compared to the heatdissipated by an engine rated to actuate an unloaded fan of a capacityto meet the normal requirements of said air duct as to volume of air tobe moved therethrough, said vane adjusting means operable in response totemperature changes downstream of the fan to adjust said vanes.

13. A method of producing heated air of sumcient volume to dry hay andother similar produce 'enclosed in a barn or other similar storagefacility consisting in blowing air through a conduit to the storagefacility where same is to be used. in powering said blower by aninternal combustion engine having excess horsepower available over thatrequired to move an adequate amount of air to effect the desired dryingof the produce in said storage facility, in initially passing at leastsome of the air in heat exchange relation with said engine to heat theair, and in impeding the flow of such air through said conduit to buildup back pressure whereby to cause the engine to operate under heavy loadin overcoming the back pressure and thereby using such excess horsepowerto provide an adequate amount 'of heat to the air conducted to saidstorage facility.

PETER ALTMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 844,627 Sylvester Feb. 19, 19071,658,775 Campbell Feb. '7, 1928 2,200,379 Williams May 14, 19402,425,000 Paget Aug. 5, 1947 2,437,899 Welty Mar. 16, 1948

